A Michigan man rescued his two infant daughters from their burning home last Saturday, Fox 2 reports.
Ray Lucas and his wife Shi’Ann Brown left their home to go to the local gas station and found their house on fire when they returned. Their relatives, who were there watching their children, stood helplessly outside the house.
"The house was engulfed in smoke, I saw my mom and my niece were standing at the door and they were frantic," Lucas said.
Twins Milan and Malaysia were in the basement still asleep while the house was in flames. In an act of courage and love for his 18-month-old daughters, Lucas entered the burning house to rescue them.
"You really couldn't see your hand in front of your face – I really only found my babies due to my memory, just knowing where they were and knowing how to get to them – just from having that same route,” he explained.
Amazingly, Lucas was able to save both his daughters. After being rescued from the fire, the girls were transported to the hospital where they were treated in the ICU. Malaysia suffered severe burns and twin sister Milan suffered some smoke inhalation and second-degree burns.
Lucas was also severely injured in the fire.
"I was temporarily blind for three days and they said it was a miracle I could see," he said. "I've got burns on my arms, but for the most part, everyone is still here."
In the chaotic moment, Lucas said that his niece went back inside upstairs to grab a phone and then jumped from a window, escaping the blaze. He also mentioned that the day before the fire, his house flooded.
Because of the severity of his injuries, Lucas is unable to work and the family is grappling with the loss of their home and belongings.
To assist the family, a GoFundMe was established to raise funds for their expenses mounting medical bills.
According to the fundraiser, Lucas was "severely burned" in the electrical fire and "sustained 2nd and 3rd degree burns to his face, eyes, neck, arms and other parts of his body in additional to smoke inhalation."
“Please help us to Bless this young man, the babies and their mother Shi’Ann so that they may secure a new home, and restore and furnish a new home environment for the family to live,” the description read.
“With such things like furniture, baby beds and baby furniture, in addition to diapers and clothing for both of the twin babies and clothing for the baby’s mother and the father. Funds are also needed to go towards medical bills and expenses,” it continued.
So far, more than $260,000 has been raised to support the family.